IN HONOR OF BLACK MUSIC HISTORY MONTH LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT BLACK WOMEN WHO HAVE CHANGED THE MUSIC INDUSTRY
- Rayven Alsobrook
- Jun 20
- 2 min read
Black Music History Month, was created in 1979 by President Jimmy Carter. It was meant to celebrate the African American musical influences that comprise an essential part of our nation’s treasured cultural heritage. When you look at all the genres that everyone enjoys in modern-day music, you will notice that the beginning of almost every genre tracesback to the Black Community, more particularly Black Women.
For example, many people consider Elvis Presley the person who helped create and popularize Rock and Roll music. However, over the years it has come out that Rock and Roll singer Sister Rosetta Tharpe is the one who invented the genre. According to NPR, “She was there before Elvis, Little Richard, and Johnny Cash swiveled their hips and strummed their guitars. It was Tharpe, the godmother of rock 'n' roll, who turned this burgeoning musical style into an international sensation.”
To go further, one could look at the “Queen of Disco” singer, Donna Summer, and credit her for changing the way that pop music sounds with her single, ‘I Feel Love’. MSN.com states,” With its machine-perfect Moog synthesizers, hypnotic beat, and soaring vocals, the track redefined disco, pioneered electronic dance music, and influenced generations of artists—from David Bowie and Blondie to modern EDM producers.”
One could look at modern-day music as well, and look at someone like Beyonce. She changed the drop days for music to Fridays, with her surprise drop of her self-titled album ‘Beyonce’. Even down to just artistry, the singer Brandy, changed how people crafted their songs with her background vocals and experimental sound. Black women have been shaping for decades how modern-day music should sound.
Writer: Rayven Alsobrook (@rayensierraa), Sources: National Museum Of African American History, NPR, MSN.com, 📸: Jimmy Carter Presidential Library and Museum/NARA, Universal Music Enterprises, Chris Ware/ Getty Images, Christopher Polk, Tony Bowen Photography
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